On this day of Nawroz, we, at the Indian Workers’ Association (Central Organising Committee) extend our solidarity to the Kurdish people who are fighting for their right to self-determination. We condemn the barbaric invasion of Afrin and other Kurdish areas by the Turkish State. We condemn the looting and ethnic cleansing of the Kurdish population in and around Afrin town being conducted by the Turkish State in deliberate collusion with the Jihadi forces such as ISIS and Al-Qaeda, subsequent to the tactical withdrawal of the YPG and YPJ. We condemn the killings of hundreds of innocent civilians including women and children by the Turkish Army and the Jihadists. We at the IWA hail the heroic resistance to the Turkish and ISIS invasion by the Kurdish people under the leadership of YPG and YPJ. We salute thousands of Kurdish martyrs, who laid down their invaluable lives for the cause of Kurdish national liberation in Syria, Turkey, Iraq and Iran. We would like to remind you all that we the IWA marched in the streets of London along with the Kurdish people in solidarity, when ISIS was attacking Kobane. Continue reading →

Despite all the horror of the events of Afrin this weekend the Kurds renewed their determination to mark this unique occasion, giving collective public expression to their heritage and culture. The resistance of the Kurds is the resistance of humanity. Long live the grass root democracy of Rojava and the democratic confederal model! Continue reading →

It is an appalling injustice that the Kurdish community in the UK is being subjected to severe harassment under Terrorism legislation through night raids, port stops, questioning by MI5, and disproportionate and violent policing of demonstrations, despite the tireless campaigns that we have organised over the years against ISIS terrorism.

We deeply regret the fact that this targeting is occurring in the UK, a country in which the Kurdish people have felt safe and integrated over the last four decades, a country in which we have sought asylum from persecution in Turkey, Syria, Iran and Iraq. It is a tragedy that the UK authorities are now mirroring the intolerance towards Kurdish people that is shown in Turkey and are using increasingly repressive methods to curb any political organisation. Continue reading →

In the early hours of Wednesday 30th August 2017, the police carried out raids at the homes of members of the Kurdish community living in Edinburgh. Families were woken from bed by six plain clothes police officers citing terrorism laws and waving a document that accuses a member of the family of participating in a terrorism activity on 26 March 2017. This so called terrorist activity was in fact a celebration of Newroz (the Kurdish New Year). Later, a forced entry was used to raid the Kurdish community centre in Wester Hailes, Edinburgh, despite the police being told that the key holder would be there “in twenty minutes.” Continue reading →

As supporters, representatives and members of the Kurdish community in the UK, we wish to send our solidarity to you as leader of the Labour Party for a successful general election campaign.
We look forward to seeing you elected as Prime Minister on June 8th: your election victory would mark a great dramatic change in the domestic and foreign policy of the UK.
With Jeremy Corbyn as PM, the UK will stand as a beacon of hope and peace around the world.
You deserve to be given this chance to implement the policies of social justice, equality and peace for which you have always been a staunch campaigner.Continue reading →

MEDIA RELEASE 8 January 2017Police action risks criminalising a communityNews that police in Edinburgh are investigating alleged fund raising for the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which is considered a terrorist organisation, has raised concerns that Turkish officials are attempting to intimidate the Scottish Kurdish community. News reports suggest that police have submitted a report to the procurator fiscal following an investigation.
However Scottish Solidarity with Kurdistan (SSK),which promotes awareness of issues in Kurdistan, is concerned that this comes at a time when the community and others in Scotland are increasingly concerned with the actions of the Turkish government in attacking Kurds in Turkey and in Syria.
Stephen Smellie, Co-convenor of SSK, statedContinue reading →

Peace in Kurdistan Women’s Alliance deplores the latest assault on Kurdish women’s movement in Turkey. Women such as those in KJA (Free Women’s Congress) have been waging a battle for women’s freedom for over 40 years, in the face of extreme opposition.

They have undoubtedly been instrumental in breaking down the barriers that have traditionally trapped women in the private sphere; they have been at the fore front of the movement to break down the barriers, inspiring women across the region to demand their equal rights and to participate equally in society, to seek equality in political office, for example, with each post being held jointly by a women and a man. Continue reading →

On 12 November 2016, at 08.30 am, Turkish state security forces circumvented the KJA (Kongreya Jinen Azad – Free Women’s Congress) center in Diyarbakir and at 11.00 am, based on a statutory decree article issued under the State of Emergency rule, Turkey’s Ministry of Interior has suspended the KJA activities, and sealed and shut down its building. Continue reading →

Here, Nilüfer Koç, Co-chair of the KNK is interviewed for the latest issue of the Kurdistan Report, a bimonthly publication produced in Germany, about the 15th General Assembly Meeting of the Kurdistan National Congress (KNK). This is a translation of the German original.

You held your general assembly meeting at a period favourable for the Kurds in the Middle East. How did this affect your meeting?

The political and social developments of the last year once more have been reflected on our 15th General Assembly Meeting. The countless successes against the Islamic State (IS) in Rojava [kurd.: Western; Western Kurdistan/North Syria] and Başur [kurd.: Southern; Southern Kurdistan/North Iraq], Abdullah Öcalan’s three years long political struggle of negotiations with the Turkish AKP (Justice and Development Party) government, the consolidation of the democratic autonomy in Rojava and the increasing international political interest in Kurdistan were the significant common denominators of the debates. Despite their political differences the 52 speakers of various Kurdish political parties were in agreement on many issues: that it was now indeed the era of the Kurds.

Thank you to everyone who took part in the Global Rally for Kobane on 1st November – now World Kobane Day. It is the second year in a row that thousands of people in dozens of countries have raised their voices for Kobane, which still suffers the consequences of a brutal 6 month ISIS siege which caught the conscience of many across the world. This time, over 400 separate actions took place in over 25 countries as far apart as India and Brazil, Denmark and Australia, Venezuela and Afghanistan, all calling for people and governments to support the reconstruction of Kobane and the lifting of the blockade. Demonstrations also took place in Rojava. Once again, it was a remarkable demonstration of solidarity and the spirit of internationalism. We send our thanks and solidarity to all those who took part and hope that collective efforts will lead to freedom and a new future for Kobane – and Rojava.

EMERGENCY APPEAL FOR AFRIN

Life in Afrin

Weekly News Briefing

Jeremy Corbyn issues statement of support for the National Demo

Message from Jeremy Corbyn to Kurdish national demonstration in London:
“I’m sorry not to be able to be with you today, but I send a message of solidarity with today’s demonstration, and with the Kurdish people, under sustained attack across the Middle East.
The conflict in Syria has been the trigger for an onslaught against the Kurdish people, who are defending their autonomy and their rights.
We are watching closely the alarming events that have been unfolding in Turkey in recent weeks, including the killing of civilians and destruction of Kurdish homes.
Any negotiated settlement of the Syrian conflict must include peace and justice for the Kurds, including in Turkey. And the Turkish government needs as a matter of urgency to restart the peace process with the Kurds and respect the rights of all its people.
We call for an end to repression of the Kurds and justice for the Kurdish people throughout the Middle East.”

Destruction and Repression in North Kurdistan

Freedom for Ocalan!

On the 19th anniversary of his kidnap and imprisonment by Turkey, we renew our call for Abdullah Ocalan to be freed as part of a peaceful solution to the Kurdish question.